Little shafts of light filled into Autumn's house through the piles of boxes that still needed to be sorted and unpacked. Today would be dedicated only to setting up the new house. Unless Pinkie makes another unexpected visit. Autumn Darling cautiously peered out the window, and down the road at Sugarcube Corner, half expecting the pink pony to come bouncing over. After taking a good look, she sat back and stared at the accumulation of boxes. Might as well start now.Taking out and sorting the items, Autumn Darling's home was soon finished and fully decorated. Looks better than my home in Canterlot She thought, letting out a sigh. Apple cider day....eh?
The line into Sweet Apple Acres was tremendous. Not every had Autumn seen that many ponies in line for.....anything. Taking small, careful steps, she took the last place in line.
"I'm always here late," A quiet voice said ahead. "But, I'm always in time for tomor-Oh." Fluttershy had been ahead. The look in her eyes wasn't easily forgotten. Flashes of anger and jealousy were easily shown, yet hidden behind her soft and kind nature.
"Hi, Fluttershy!" Autumn Darling attempted to sound as positive as she could, without showing intimidation.
"Autumn Darling, right?"
"Y-yep."
"So....I saw you talking to McIntosh yesterday?"
"I only bumped into him, he offered to help me-"
"Okay! That's totally fine!"
Autumn Darling was in shock. Was that even a problem to her?
"O-okay."
The line moved little, and even if it did, the end of the line felt like it was miles away from the stand. After a short time, Autumn's patience was up. It must be pretty good, if the line- Her thoughts were interrupted as the party-happy pony came forward.
"That's some good cider! And don't forget your party tonight, Autumn! All of our closest friends will be there!"
"I won't forget, trust me."
"Perfect!"
Turns out, "all our closest friends" was all of PONYVILLE. There were ponies that I've never seen these past two days, which was a large amount. If felt like all of EQUESTRIA was hanging in Twilight Sparkle's library.
"Pinkie Pie threw a pretty great party, huh?" Twilight asked.
"Best I've ever seen!" The only one I've ever been to....
Autumn moved around the party, conversing and meeting new ponies along the way. Slowly, by coincidence, she met up with Big McIntosh.
"Well, hi, again."
"Hi."
"The cider seems to be pretty good. I haven't had any, but from the look of it, it seems like it."
"Thank you, Miss Darlin'." He nodded a bit.
"You can call me Autumn, or Autumn Darling. So, Applejack's your sister?"
"Eeyup. And Apple Bloom."
"Cool......So...um.....nice meeting you?" Autumn began walking away.
"Nice meeting y'all, Miss Darlin'."
She whipped her head back to see the smug smile of Big McIntosh.
Autumn Darling awoke in her house, finally in her own bed. Rays of sunshine flooded in, as boxes no longer ruled the space. Pinkie Pie's party had ended later than planned, or at least Autumn left later than she wanted. Realizing the day, the last of the Apple's cider, she bounced out of bed to read the clock. 12:08. Pinkie can sure throw a party... she thought as she slowly crept downstairs. Good. Nopony's here. Just me. She felt like she had to be careful, being as how she already figured out already how wild Pinkie is. Sitting down to eat, she only looked at her food in deep thought.
Did I find that special somepony?
I'm a fool for playing along with tricks. Especially since I've only known him for a couple days.
She sighed and ate, knowing that what was wished possible just couldn't be done. Would it ever, though? Maybe that dream wasn't worth fulling so early on? Maybe is wasn't worth the effort after all....
Stop thinking that way. Don't run yourself out of Ponyville, too.
A loud knock at the door startled Autumn Darling.
"Autumn Darlin'? You in there?" Applejack's voice was louder than expected. Food and utensils flew into the air, clattering on the floor.
"See? I told you she was home. The poor thing must be scared out of her mind-" Rarity replied.
"How do you know that's actually Autumn? It could be a rabid monster!" Rainbow Dash mocked, while Fluttershy seemed to scream.
Autumn went and opened the door. There stood the six of them, either bouncing, screaming, or fighitng.
"Hi guys?"
"See Dashie? She's perfectly fine!" Pinkie kept hopping in circles.
"What're you doing here?"
"We though we'd give you a tour around Ponyville, and to get to know you better." Twilight said.
"Oh...okay. I'll be right there."
I'm a fool for playing along with tricks.
For the most part, the small town was larger than Autumn had expected. They took her to Sugarcube Corner, which was literally right down the road, to Twilight's library, which had more books than ever imagined, and to Rarity's house/workshop. Eventually, they all sat down back at Sugarcube Corner.
"So, Autumn Darlin', where are you from?"
"Well," How do I explain this? "As a filly, my parents and I moved around a bit, because they were......merchants. But recently, I moved from Canterlot."
"Really? What did they sell?" Rarity asked.
Autumn Darling took a while to think. How embarrassing is it to tell somepony that your parents sold wood-things? Extremely. "They sold.....well.....items carved out of wood?"
Rainbow Dash let out a loud chuckle, which quickly turned into a laughing fit. "Things carved out of wood? Seriously?"
Autumn sighed. "I'm serious. We moved all over Equestria, spending as little as a day or as long as a few months in one town. Eventually, once I had gotten my cutie mark, they decided to settle in Canterlot. The prospered there, with the wood business, but I was the tulip out of a field of roses. The colts and fillies there were rough, taking extreme care to ruin the positivity I had. I was a useless unicorn.....and I still am. And, that's why I moved here, because I remebered Ponyville as the happiest place ever."
The table was silent for a few moments. "How did you get your cutie mark?"
"Oh. That." Autumn shed a downcast look on the table. "Turns out the only good uses my magic has is piling leaves."
"Everypony's good at something," Twilight reasured her. "So, the wood-carving parents explains the little figures you had sitting in your window?"
"Yep. It's.....a bad hobby," Autumn glanced out the window. The sky began turning into brilliant hues of red and orange. "I ought to get going. Bye."
Autumn Darling slowly walked out, fighting the urge to burst into a run. Why did she tell them that much? It was all true, but the last time she told anyone that story, the backstabbed her, and ruined the meaning of happiness.
I'm a fool for playing along with such tricks.